RAPAPORT... In an era when consumers are more tech-savvy than ever, and
online jewelers are taking business from brick-and-mortar, tools that
enhance the customer experience can help retailers draw customers to
their stores.

Many industries have been using 3-D for years to improve consumers’ buying
experience. However, the jewelry retail trade has only recently begun to harness
the benefits the technology offers.

Feeding the instant-gratification demand

Desktop Metal, a US-based 3-D printing business, has
partnered with designer Christian Tse to create Studio System, new 3-D
printing technology for the jewelry industry, which it will debut at JCK Las Vegas, taking place May 31 to June 3. The system allows jewelers to
produce highly detailed custom jewelry, tooling and metal molds in-house.

Using the technology, retailers can make prototypes for new
designs in just a few hours, Desktop Metal notes. The company currently offers
the option for stainless steel printing, and is developing the technology for
precious metals.

“This puts the entire production process literally in the
hands of the designer,” says Tse. “And the batch processing will facilitate
faster turnaround times for orders, allowing partner retailers to exceed their
customer’s expectations.”

A rough in hand

Sarine Technologies, which manufactures equipment for the
diamond industry, is offering three-dimensional modeling of rough stones. The
3D-Origin, which the company launched last week, is an add-on to the Sarine Diamond Journey report. It creates a
replica of the rough-diamond from which a polished is formed.

The idea behind the product is to provide consumers looking
to purchase polished-diamond jewelry with a tactile connection to the original
rough stone.

“The diamond and jewelry industry is just discovering the
amazing opportunities technology creates for the modern retail environment,”
said David Block, CEO of Sarine Technologies. “Not just as a means of luring
customers, but also to engage customers’ hearts and minds through digital
storytelling of the uniquely complex process of polishing a diamond.”

Image: A rough-stone replica created using 3D-Origin. (Sarine Technologies)